Thinking Beyond Ourselves

My convictions for environmental concerns overwhelmingly outweigh my convictions about most other problems facing our planet. For this reason, I continually seek out as many ways as possible to bring sustainable methods into my life, my home and my work. Weddings and Interiors are becoming quite popular places for buzz words "eco-friendly" and therefore a crop (no pun intended) of products have surfaced, always seeming to cost more money and are terribly guilty of greenwashing.

For this reason, I was very pleasantly surprised to see a list of more practical and useful tips for greening a wedding in the most recent publication of Brides Of Oklahoma. We can thank Lindsay Gibson for putting this together, and you can check out the spread on her website. It is legit. I recommend every single one of those tips!

In our wedding, we adopted the philosophy that only what we could use after the wedding could be purchased. If I knew that I couldn't gift it, sell it or decorate with it, the guilt of purchasing something for only one day outweighed my desire to have it. Additionally, we made almost all of our DIY projects from materials I already had, such as the birdseed pouches. It was an idea that hit late at night when I was holding pretty fabric scraps that I had no plan for -- and it clicked!

A detail shot:

My friend and bridesmaid Whitney, passing them out as the reception was winding down:


You can read the original birdseed pouch post for more explanation on the process.

Any ways you're trying to go a less wasteful route or special things you reuse instead of purchasing new? I'd love to hear about it!

Sam Lamb's Gnome Granary

How she had it looking about a week ago...

And now!

Scoot on over to photographer Samantha Lamb's website to follow the progress of her granary renovation. It's quite fantastic, truly. Once an actual granary, it fell out of use, then into the hands of hoarders! She has absolutely worked like madness, and deserves for her first finished project in there to have turned out so well. Favorite. Library. Ever.

I love that this is all scrap wood that she's repurposed, and to showcase antiques, no less! I'm horrible at provoking the "primitive" vibe, but she is a genius. Her photos will lure you and mess with your dreams they're so beautiful. Her gnome lamp is now on sale at Urban Outfitters! Gnomes, of course, because that is the inspiration for her sweet little guest cottage.

More to come on adventures with Sam. We spent last weekend rummaging through scrap and stump piles (in Hobart, Oklahoma, no less) when not working in this sweet little granary. I might have trespassed??? Hopefully not, and ignorance is bliss.

Later on, we're thinking painted "rugs" on the floor, some fantastic thrifted and upcycled furniture, a wood-burning fireplace, and even more warmth!

Eco-Shopping: Worth it?

I have a hard time distinguishing between relentless "greenwashing" (the fraudulent act of claiming environmental friendliness just for the sake of sale trends) and knowing that a product truly is making a significant improvement over its chemical-laden counterpart. Cleaning supplies get me every time because I hate to knowingly fill the air with toxins when my very motivation to rid our space of dirt was for our family's safety. No? Also, food.

Areas that I have a harder time knowing the benefits of: clothing and furniture. It won't take me two seconds to admit that a very large part of my hesitation is price related. Is it possible that I'm talking about an unknown opportunity cost?? {Note: Microeconomics was just proved useful, and Professor Maryanne Meiners may have one redeeming quality for having successfully conveyed that concept. No charge for that vocab lesson.}

This brings me to a company I happened over today via Design*Sponge, where a spectacular yellow lacquered stool was featured. Upon reviewing the Branch Home store, I noticed the commitment to sustainability they share, and how all products comply with this standard in really cool ways. Had I physically entered the store, my hands would have been empty and my pocketbook pleasantly surprised with me. Living right is spendy, apparently. Some of my favorite pieces:

Set of stools, fair-trade, handmade in India from recycled materials:Basil "Garden-In-A-Bag" with all organic materials:

A Really, Really, Really pretty wool blanket:
Ok, let's be honest. I don't like this one. It's too, ahem, phallic.This is possibly the most fun pillow on the planet, plus it has recycled filling and is printed sustainably on organic cotton:
And whoa -- vintage leather belts on recycled backing. This is a rug, people. So awesome:
Ohhhing and Ahhhing aside, let's be real: Would you spend three or four times more and feel like your money on that did the most good for our planet? Your household safety? What's a better expense in your mind?

This was in no way a sponsored post. Clearly, as I probably would have deterred sales, and the people behind this company do not know I exist.

The Etsy Gospel -- Handmade Weddings: A Guide for the Bride (and Groom)

is it a horrible move for me to momentarily redirect for inspiration and know-how? because i surely shall.

i've found mediocre attempts or utter fabulousness from Etsy, the site for the nobody to make themselves sell like a somebody.

this wealth of knowledge they've supplied on handmade weddings is quite fantastic, and much more far-reaching than just the nuptials. apply this kind of go-get-em thinking to your home // baby shower // annoyingly-cute sister's dorm.


here are two purchases from Etsy that were used in a wedding of mine from last month. nightcrawler bout (from seller LittleMommaErin) and ring bearer pillows (from seller RomancingJuliet)... to see why we superheroes are relevant, check out their wedding blog. ;-)


speaking of annoyingly-cute sisters, mine has dang awesome pottery-painting skills. don't believe me? check her nasty self out. (no, her shop name isn't "HerNastySelf," although i'd find that most entertaining. it's FreeLilBirdy.) i'd also recommend my sweet friend, cheryl at FineFlowers, for darling eco-friendly headbands and craftery.


i'm sure you've heard of etsy. any great finds of late? other shops you recommend?

- ashley sue

DIY Before: $3 Chairs Made Over

Yes, they're not so hot right now. Come Monday night, they'll look like totally different pieces.

We can thank our 50th street Goodwill for these. $6 got me both. In good structural condition, but not so aesthetically pleasing at present: Dull wood, dirty dated fabric, broken (or missing) backs, etc.

Monday nights a couple gals are coming over for a crafting extravaganza at the Whiteside ark. Ark and crafts! Get it? Well...I guess you would only if you knew our house is no typical OKC ranch-style home, but rather an 8-level house of cedar.

Anyways, the before pictures::
















Monday night I'll be sharing the how-to for this project. Holler if you'd like to come for this, or just to hang out, or to bring other projects you're working on that you like to show off. ;) I'll email you our addy.

Desserts will be served!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Deluxe OK Indie Craft Bazaar

My first art show and sale is coming up! Woot! You can find out more about the this lovely shindig on their website. I'm hoping to meet about a million brides and homeowners, as well as good ole friends with whom I share interests. It's no secret that my move from Nashville to Oklahoma City was filled with much uncertainty about meeting people that revere color the way I do.

(Admit it. When you think of Oklahoma, you think red-earthed-desert, right?)

So what's in store? The debut of my wedding visions portfolio, an actual wedding dress, a million and two handmade crafts for homes-fashion-nuptials, and the like. The list is rather extensive. For example...

More birdseed pouches, several sets with different fabrics:

A buncha types of modern floral arrangements, several with moss and milk glass and some faux flower couture bouquets ...

Handmade wreaths, some from recycled paper, some from woodland creature "action figures"...

Paper-and-fabric corsages and bouts...

Hairpieces (mine is pictured)...

Bracelets from antique buttons...

And LOTS of embroidery.... ; )

All photos by April Sirit of Evoke Photography

vintage. handmade. artistic. original.

Here goes nothing: the official launch of radiant
studios is kicking off soon-- Wedding and interior details that are nothing short of personal and crafty deliciousness. I simply can't wait to share what I have put together. By this I mean that there are literally 54 different weddings in the works, all begging to be shared.

Personally, I most enjoy designing and making wedding gowns with flair, invites, decorations, flowers, and party looks... And repurposing furniture, painting what was thought to be certain trash, and breaking rules to create something utterly fresh. Chaos does not have to remain as chaos.

Contact me i-frickin'-mmediately if you want help creating a vision for the festivities, have a room in your home that just isn't coming together how you'd like, or if you just have questions about what I'm willing to do.

In the mean time, I must share this, just because I laugh every time I see it.



Courtesy of the iPhone application "Backdrop."

Progress

I wish you could see our collection of glass bottles. This entirely free project has been so wonderfully worth it. We now have four good-sized boxes full of the beauts, as mentioned in this post.

Another inspiration photo, via I-have-no-clue...


Peonies are boss. Whether or not the Nashville Farmers Market will have them is a major unknown, but it really won't matter. Anything'll be dandy.

P.S. BW came into town this weekend for a marriage conference. Wow. I needed that like Santa needs elves. To finish it all off, we could be found sitting by the fire at Panera and chatting for three hours yesterday, followed by a window shopping spree at Academy and Lowe's. Strange places to visit in that context, yes, but when you're needing fitness equipment for your newfound cycling-as-a-couple interest, and are planning a garden and house renovation, it makes perfect sense.

Less than two months, folks. : )

Today's Project: Re-Vamping Boring CD Sleeves

I'm sure you've seen this done before, but I'll give you the run-down, and our take on it.

• Vinyl-Looking CD's from Verbatim, via Best Buy. 60 on sale for $20.
• 100 Paper CD Sleeves with Window from Meritline. 100 for $3.89. Free Shipping.
• Stamps from Martha's stamp line at Wal-Mart. Complete Starter kit for $17.87. (We're using these same stamps on our beverage napkins, programs, plates and more, so we'll get our money's worth.)
• Neat when it all comes together: 2 of our themes, if you'll remember, are Nature and Music, so it's a nice combo. Also, our programs are going to look like CD lyric booklets. Next to these, it promises to be a nice pair. Modern & Simple. I'm ok with that.
  

Our CD's actually have muted earth tones instead of the ivory pictured:


What the CD sleeves looked like when shipped:



Stamped! That's a friend's CD on display, as Brandon has our CD's with him out in Oklahoma. If you're curious though, google Eric Vinson. I bet he'd pee himself if he knew he got a plug just now.



And for those of you wondering what's made the cut for this little disc...
The incomplete list, in no particular order (YET):

1. Glosoli - Sigur Ros (Processional)
2. All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar (Recessional)
3. Seven Keys - Aqualung
4. 'Til Kingdom Come - Coldplay
5. Magic - Andy Davis
6. Your Love Is Strong - Jon Foreman
7. Slaveship - Josh Rouse

There's more. I can't remember right now! Headed to bed early tonight. Leave any suggestions you have!

Total Change of Plans

Remember yesterday's inspiration plan for the boutonnieres? They were handmade from fabric; another definitely eclectic touch. Like it needed it. Well, last night I was at Wal-Mart to pick up supplies for making the programs (Papers, stamps, ribbon, the like). Of course I browsed through Martha's wedding line as she has some good finds every now and then. The simplicity and ease of what I found convinced me to take a different route...and it's a route I'm already finished with, whereas the last time I made those bout's from scratch it took about 3 1/2 hours.

Maybe I should show you a little peak at my dress for this to make sense:


Photo by Christina Lafferty. She's a genius.

It's Crinkled. Yes, I found a messy wedding dress. Don't ask how.

So these plain boutonnieres look like this: (Paper looks like the dress fabric, no?)



I quickly hot-glued twine (left over from birdseed pouches) around the base and a button on the bow:


And kept the original packaging to protect them from getting crushed:


All Paper Boutonnieres can be found from Martha Stewart's Wedding Supplies in-store but not online at Wal-Mart (for $4).

Personal Reflection: I'm not a fan of roses, necessarily. They're overdone. But really, my time is worth this! And, although this is a slightly varied from what I had in mind, who the heck is going to remember what our boutonnieres looked like?!?!?!

The Scoop on the Corsages

I’m obviously a fan of doing things myself. Randomly enough, I’ve taken 2 classes on floral design, so I figured I’d make the corsages and boutonnieres for my Mom and his Mom, and my sister-in-law who is Day-Of-Directing. Our plan regarding flowers of any kind is to NOT use a florist, but actually head to the ever-reliable Farmer’s Market the day before the wedding. However, this puts a major time crunch and unnecessary stress on me! Dad, who is a Horticulturist and Floral Designer, has offered to put together all of the bouquets, and my aunt, an interior designer, will be assembling the floral arrangements for the reception. As these are their only “responsibilities” there won’t be stress on them despite the closeness to the festivities.
Enter the timely and free alternative: All corsages and bout’s to be pinned will be made of fabric that I own, and well ahead of time. I’ve almost completed the corsages, and actually made more than I expected! We’re having 6 total photographers (I’ll explain in a future post why we’re actually having more help than EVOKE can offer). Next on my list are the corsages for guestbook attendants, cake table attendants, and so on, then the bout’s for the groomsmen and ushers (which I’m showing the inspiration for in the last photo).

I used a tutorial found on Maize in Montana via 2000 Dollar Wedding.

The real photographer's Pin:


The Photo Booth Photographer Pins:


Mother-of-the-Bride*, Mother-of-the-Groom*, Day-of-Director*,
Pastor of Church (that isn't officiating)


*I apologize for the excessive hyphen usage.


The Boutonniere Plan, from Martha Stewart:

The Getaway Decision: Birdseed Pouches

Well, lo and behold, when I give up on a project for the sake of expense, it keeps managing to work itself out. Exhibit A: I don’t feel super strongly about having anything thrown at us, bubbles blown at us, or fire engulfing us when sparklers go awry. Rice seems simple enough, but apparently when consumed by a hungry bird, well, think fireworks. Oops. Releasing butterflies would be beautiful, almost poetic and elegant, and tied very closely to our nature-inspired event. However, this meddles with migratory patterns, and most butterflies that endure this never get back on track. Oh, geez.

Enter birdseed, the obvious option that I never even considered because it is so obvious, and traditional, and, well, since when do I do that?! I began looking up some ready-made bundles to purchase. Average price for a generic “Belongs-at-every-traditional-wedding-in-the-last-50-years” was $1 per pouch, already filled and tied. Simple enough, cheap I guess. But since I didn’t really care about this custom in the first place, what was the point?!

Solution? Oh, I am so satisfied with this solution. Inspired by fabric favor bags at a friend's recent shower, I found fabric scraps around my apartment that had been leftover from projects, or had purchased and never used, etc. I coordinated fabrics so that the front and back worked together, but were not painfully matchy-matchy. Without measuring or hemming (to foster the look of simplicity and character), I stitched inward-facing sides together, locked the stitches, and then turned right-side-out. After filling with a teeny scoop of birdseed (the environmentally friendly option), I tied twine around the bags. A further step I opted out of because my desire to simplify: use the tie to loop on a tag with a quote, monogram, etc. Done.

Total project cost for 100 pouches was the $6 for the birdseed. Note: If you aren’t a total dweeb that has fabric on hand at all times, ten bucks says you know someone that will! The point for me in this project was to reduce my ecological impact by avoiding shipping a product, and to recycle/reuse supplies already in my possession. The 3 R’s, ladies. Gotta love ‘em. Further, what’s not to love about a touch of life and personality in a wedding when so much of them becomes industrialized?!

It’s funny, I was awfully surprised at myself for using these fabrics despite how they stray from any hint of a theme, or even the colors of the wedding. However, when the final pouch was completed, I couldn’t help but smile. It was refreshing to see a spontaneous and eclectic surprise! The frayed top edge, the unlikely combinations of fabric--I guess that’s just more my style anyway. ;

So here we have the vintage, eco-friendly side of the wedding, not the nature-themed. ; ) Also, I must confess, my digital camera has been hidden from me, by me, so these are taken in photobooth, so you'll have to excuse the poor quality and awkward angles! Ha.

Love,

Ashley Sue

Front and Back of Each Combo is shown:

Somewhere to call home... for this day.

Well, I guess this is somewhat vintage because the church is old… Ha. Glam? Not so much, except in a simple, less-is-more respect. If we were to have a theme for our wedding day, well, there would be four. Or five, in order of prominence: Nature, Vintage Flair (via fabric touches, heirloom cameos, each bridesmaid reflecting an era or style) , Musical Influence (we’re both musicians), Library Love, and Bikes. Picture all of these counterparts at Blakemore Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee. We chose this spot because a mutual best friend, Dana (yes, a woman) is the pastor here and she is letting us use the church grounds for no costs beyond their overhead. You can’t see the first floor space in these photos, but it is one open room, also with lots of windows (read: natural light everywhere in this building), painted a muted robin’s egg blue. It is our reception site, along with the fabric photo booth on the lawn…. but that’s another post in and of itself. ; )









All photos courtesy of my Future Husband.

A little project...

This is simple, but I just love it. In honor of a newly outspoken desire to be more environmentally conscious, I’ve opted to share some inspiration that has translated into a plan for not only our wedding, but that will also carry on into our home. You’ll probably die to hear this, but I made a Facebook group asking friends still living on campus and all over Nashville to save all of their glass items. From spaghetti jars to empty liquor bottles and the like, we’ll amass our entire “vase” collection by recycling, and not spending a penny. These will serve for in-window decoration in the sanctuary and downstairs… The natural light will be beautiful shining through the glass. So serene, so far from prissy, still has so much personality. I’ve found plenty of these at flea markets and antique stores, but wouldn’t buying them defeat our purposes? However, my fiance’s grandmother did say she’s going to let us borrow some of her vintage ones for the big day. No complaints from me!!

Ok, enough explanation. Just look:

(Via A Backyard Wedding)

and another...

(I'll be honest... I can't remember where I found this. At all. I'm sorry!)

You get the point, though?